Object Dar't

January 2, 2012

I've returned to my studio finally and quickly trying to get back into my groove where I feel comfortable and safe. :) I have completed two companion pieces. The back story of the location can be found in my newsletter here.

I hate self-indulgence but there is considerable commentary within these two pieces which previously has never been present in my work. I seem to have something to say about my life as an artist now. The truth is, I never set out to be an artist. I just fell into it and there are days when it is overwhelming. I was not mentally prepared so there are moments when I struggle. Suddenly people are watching and have very strong feelings and things to say about what I do. Add to it the fact that my anonymity is largely gone on a local level and voila; you have these paintings.

All my paintings are painted to music. In each case, the lyrics seem to have meaning; I don't pick the songs,
they pick me. I seemed to be a "blues" period with this painting because the songs were nothing but straight blues. This moonlight version was not only sketched to Stranded by Van Morrison but I also hiked this location to the song. I'm a horrific, diehard Van-Fan btw.

"Everyday, everyday, it's hustle, hustle time, hustle time Everyday and every way, one more, one more mountain to climb
It's leaving me stranded In my own little island With my eyes open wide

The sunlight version was sketched to New Kid in Town by the Eagles. The New Kid in Town lyrics clued me into what was going
on in the paintings (I knew something was going on but not WHAT).

"There's talk on the street; it sounds so familiar
Great expectations, everybody's watching you
People you meet, they all seem to know you
Even your old friends treat you like you're something new
Johnny come lately, the new kid in town
Everybody loves you, so don't let them down"

"Going down the city sidewalk alone in the crowd
No one knows the lonely one whose head's in the clouds
Sad faces painted over with those magazine smiles
Heading out to somewhere won't be back for a while"

So in these paintings, the pine at the apex represents me separated from
the crowd on both sides by a river. The moon and the sun are the
"spotlight" and the crowd appears to be craning to see what the pine is
doing. Thankfully the tone is benevolent so on some level it must be ok.
And the depth of color, strong sense of shadow seems to be my response
to all of it.